The Recruits

Recruits of 1653

After ten years of efforts, They notes with sadness that the small colony on the Island of Montreal will disappear, if it does not manage to be established on solid bases. Several colonists think of throwing sponge.

It is Jeanne Mance who convinces Mr. De Maisonneuve, the founder of Montreal, to go on a journey in France in order to recruit new colonists and to equip the colony with the means which would allow survival. Moreover, Jeanne Mance gives to Paul de Maisonneuve the sum of 22 thousand Livres (current money at that time ) intended for the foundation of the Hospital, to pay the recruits, in exchange of a few arpents of ground. The historians say that Jeanne Mance saved Montreal and saved Canada with this clear-sighted act. Nevertheless, this act will be reproached Jeanne Mance by François de Montmorency of Laval.

De Maisonneuve thus leaves News-France, with the autumn 1651. It wants to recruit hundred colonists, without what it will order the closing of Ville-Marie.

He goes at Flèche and with the assistance of Mr. De la Dauversière,He makes countryside in Maine and Anjou to recruit people who would agree to be made clearers and soldiers in the New World. De La Flèche , De Maisonneuve goes in its native Champagne fatherland where it meets Marguerite Bourgeoys, originating in Troyes.

At the beginning of 1653, 117 men sign contracts with the Company of Montreal, engaging for one period from three to five years with wages proportional to their trade. In return, one guarantees housing and food to them, as well as the return in France without expenses, if such were their desire, at the end of the contract.

On June 20, 1653, the group, accompanied by Mr. De Maisonneuve, embarks in Saint-Nazaire, on the Saint Nicolas's De Nantes. Fourteen women, whose Marguerite Bourgeoys travel they too.

After the departure, they realizes that the boat takes water of all shares. Marguerite Bourgeoys tells in her relation that the passengers became furious, believing that one led them to perdition. The boat makes half-turn and one it radoube during three weeks.
The departure takes place finally on The departure takes place finally on July 20, and after two months of a painful crossing, when six passengers died at sea, the recruits put foot at ground in Quebec, on September 22.

Lauzon governor refuses to place boats at the disposal of Mr. De Maisonneuve and it is on November 16, 1653 that the small troop unloads in Montreal, welcome by abundant snow on particularly early winter, under the cordial cheers of Montréalais which were certain not to survive the winter, because there was nothing in the case nor in the deposits.

These recruits, these a hundred and thirty men and women saved the town of Montreal and all News-France.



List of the engaged of la Grande Recrue of 1653

Last Name, Nick Name et First Name / Origine: town or city (current French department) / profession

1. AUDRU, Jacques - Paris (Seine) - Pioneer
2. AUGER dit LE BARON, Jean - Chemiré-en-Charnie (Sarthe) - Pioneer
3. AVERTY dit LÉGER, Maurice - La Flèche (Sarthe) - Pioneer
4. BAREAU dit LAGOGUE, Pierre - La Flèche (Sarthe) - Pioneer
5. BASTARD, Yves -? - Pioneer
6. BAUDREAU dit GRAVELINE, Urbain - Clermont-Créans (Sarthe) - Pioneer
7. BAUDRY dit L’ÉPINETTE, Antoine - Chemiré-en-Charnie (Sarthe) - Pioneer and Nailsmith
8. BEAUDOUIN, Olivier -? - Pioneer
9. BÉLIOT, Charles-Jean - St-Jean-de-Lamothe (Sarthe) - Pioneer
10. BENOIT dit LIVERNOIS, Paul - Châtillon-en-Bazois (Nièvre) - carpenter
11. BESNARD (ou BÉNARD) dit BOURJOLI, René - Villiers-au-Bouin (Indre-et-Loire) - Pioneer
12. BITEAU dit ST-LAURENT, Louis - Clermont-Créans (Sarthe) - Pioneer
13. BOIVIN dit PANSE, Jacques - Jarzé (Maine-et-Loire) - Pioneer
14. BONDY, René - Dijon (Côte-d’Or) - carpenter
15. BOUCHARD, Étienne - Paris (Seine) - Surgeon
16. BOUVIER, Michel - La Flèche (Sarthe) - Pioneer and mason
17. BOUZÉ, Pierre - Sablé-sur-Sarthe (Sarthe) - Pioneer
18. BRASSIER, Jacques -? -?
19. BROSSARD, Urbain - La Flèche (Sarthe) - Mason and Pioneer
20. CADET, René - St-Germain-d’Arcé (Sarthe) - Pioneer
21. CADIEUX, Jean - Pringé-sur-Loir (Sarthe) - Pioneer and locksmith
22. CHARTIER dit ROBERT, Guillaume - La Flèche (Sarthe) - Pioneer and tailor
23. CHARTIER, Louis -? - Surgeon
24. CHAUDRONNIER, Jean - Bailleul (Sarthe) - Pioneer
25. CHAUVIN dit le Grand-Pierre, Pierre - Vion (Sarthe) - Pioneer and miller
26. CHEVALIER, Louis - Caen (Calvados) - Pioneer and shoe repairer
27. CHEVASSET, Antoine -? - Pioneer
28. CRUSSON dit PILOTE, François -? - Pioneer
29. DANIS dit TOURANGEAU, Honoré - Montlouis (Indre-et-Loire) - carpenter
30. DAUBIGEON, Julien - Clisson (Loire-Atlantique) - Pioneer and laborer
31. DAVOUST, Jean - Clermont-Créans (Sarthe) - Pioneer and hatmaker
32. DENIAU, Jean - Nantes (Loire-Atlantique) - Pioneer and Pit sawyer
33. DENIAU dit DESTAILLIS, Marin - Luché-Pringé (Sarthe) - Pioneer
34. DESAUTELS dit LAPOINTE, Pierre - Malicorne-sur-Sarthe (Sarthe) - Pioneer
35. DESORSON, Zacharie -? - carpenter and Pit swayer
36. DESPRÉS dit BERRI, Simon - Blois (Loire-et-Cher) - Pioneer
37. DOGUET, Louis - Luché-Pringé (Sarthe) - Pioneer
38. DOUSSIN, René -? - Pit sawyer
39. DUCHARME dit LAFONTAINE, Fiacre - Paris (Seine) - joiner
40. DUVAL, Nicolas - Forges-en-Brie (Seine-et-Marne) - Pioneer
41. FONTAINE dit Le Petit Louis, Louis -? - Pit sawyer
42. FRESNOT, Jean - Ruillé-en-Champagne (Sarthe) - Pioneer and roofer
43. FRUITIER, Jean -? - Pioneer
44. GAILLARD dit LEPRIEUR, Christophe - Verron (Sarthe) - Pioneer and gardener
45. GALBRUN, Simon - Verron (Sarthe) - Pioneer
46. GASTEAU, Jean - Clermont-Créans (Sarthe) - Pioneer
47. GAUDIN dit CHASTILLON, Pierre - Chatillon-sur-Seine (Côte d’Or) - carpenter
48. GENDRON dit LA ROLANDIÈRE, Guillaume - Blain (Loire-Atlantique) - butcher and roofer
49. GERVAIS (ou GERVAISE), Jean - Souvigné (Indre-et-Loire) - Pioneer and baker
50. GRÉGOIRE, Louis -? - Pioneer
51. GUERTIN dit LE SABOTIER, Louis - Daumeray (Maine-et-Loire) - Pioneer and sabot-maker
52. GUYET (ou GUYOT), Jean - Villiers-au-Bouin (Indre-et-Loire) - Pioneer
53. HARDY, Pierre - Bailleul (Sarthe) - loborer and Pioneer
54. HOURAY dit GRANDMONT, René - Azay-le-Rideau (Indre-et-Loire) - Pioneer
55. HUDIN, François - La Flèche (Sarthe) - Pioneer and baker
56. HUNAULT dit DESCHAMPS, Toussaint - St-Pierre-ès-Champs (Oise) - Pioneer
57. HURTEBISE (ou HURTIBISE), André - Rouessé-Vassé (Sarthe) - Pioneer
58. HURTEBISE (ou HURTIBISE), Marin - Rouessé-Vassé (Sarthe) - Pioneer
59. JANNEAU (ou JANNOT) dit LACHAPELLE, Marin - La Chapelle-Monthodon (Aisne) - carpenter
60. JETTÉ, Urbain - Saint-Germain-le-Val (Sarthe) - Pit sawyer, mason and Pioneer
61. JOUANNEAU, Mathurin - Aubigné-Racan (Sarthe) - Pioneer
62. JOUSSELIN (ou JOSSELIN), Nicolas - Solesmes (Sarthe) - Pioneer
63. JOUSSET dit LALOIRE, Mathurin - Saint-Germain-d’Arcé (Sarthe) - Pioneer
64. LAIRT (ou LERT), Étienne - Villaines-sous-Malicorne (Sarthe) - Pioneer
65. LANGEVIN dit LACROIX, Mathurin - Le Lude (Sarthe) - Pioneer
66. LA SOUDRAYE, Louis -? - Pioneer
67. LAUZON, Gilles - Caen (Calvados) - Pioneer and ironmonger
68. LECOMTE, Jean - Chemiré-en-Charnie (Sarthe) - Pioneer
69. LECOMTE, Michel - Chemiré-en-Charnie (Sarthe) - Pioneer
70. LEFEBVRE dit LAPIERRE, Pierre - Paris (Seine) - Pioneer
71. LEMERCHER dit LAROCHE, Jean - Paris (Sarthe) - joiner
72. LEPALLIER, Joachim - Clermont-Créans (Sarthe) - Pioneer
73. LEROY (ou ROY), Simon - Ligron (Sarthe) - Pioneer
74. LOUVARD dit DESJARDINS, Michel - Parcé (Sarthe) ou Hambers (Mayenne) - Miller and Pioneer
75. MARTIN dit LAMONTAGNE, Olivier - Auray (Morbihan) - Pioneer and mason
76. MARTIN dit LARIVIÈRE, Pierre - Sainte-Colombe (Sarthe) - Pioneer
77. MILLET dit LE BEAUCERON, Nicolas - Neuville-aux-Bois (Loiret) - carpenter and pit swayer
78. MILLOT (ou MILHAUT) dit LAVAL, Jacques - Crouzille (Mayenne) - Pioneer
79. MOTAIN (ou MOTAIS), Guy - Meslay-du-Maine (Mayenne) - Pioneer
80. MOULIÈRES, Pierre - Mareuil (Sarthe) - Pioneer and Blacksmith
81. MOUSSEAU dit LAVIOLETTE, Jacques - Azay-le-Rideau (Indre-et-Loire) - Pioneer
82. NAIL, Jacques - Solesmes (Sarthe) - Pioneer
83. NOCHER, François - Chemiré-en-Charnie (Sarthe) - Pioneer
84. OLIVIER dit LE PETIT BRETON, Jean - Chemiré-en-Charnie (Sarthe) - Pioneer
85. PAPIN, Pierre - Sablé-sur-Sarthe (Sarthe) - Pioneer
86. PICARD dit LAFORTUNE, Hugues - Pont-James (Loire-Atlantique) - Pioneer and pit swayer
87. PICHARD, Jean - Rouez (Sarthe) - Pioneer
88. PIRON dit LAVALLÉE, François - La Suze (Sarthe) - locksmith and Pioneer
89. PIRON, Pierre - Malicorne-sur-Sarthe (Sarthe) - digger and surgeon
90. PRESTROT dit LAVIOLETTE, Jean - Parcé-sur-Sarthe (Sarthe) - Pioneer and miller
91. RAGUIDEAU dit ST-GERMAIN, Pierre - La Flèche (Sarthe) - Pioneer
92. RENNES dit PACHANE, Bertrand de -? - Pioneer
93. ROBIN dit DESFORGES, Étienne -? - Pioneer
94. ROBUTEL DE ST-ANDRÉ, Claude - Frencq (Pas-de-Calais) -?
95. RODAILLER, René-? - Pioneer
96. ROGER, Christophe - Clermont-Créans (Sarthe) - Pioneer
97. ROINAY, François - Sablé-sur-Sarthe (Sarthe) - Pioneer
98. TAVERNIER dit LAFORÊT, Jean - Roëzé-sur-Sarthe (Sarthe) - Pioneer and armourer
99. THÉODORE dit GILLES, Michel - Tours (Indre-et-Loire) - Pioneer, paver
100. VACHER dit ST-JULIEN, Sylvestre - St-Julien-sur-Cher (Loire-et-Cher) - carpenter
101. VALLETS (ou VALLAYS), Jean - Teillé (Sarthe) - Pioneer
102. VALIQUET dit LAVERDURE, Jean - Le Lude (Sarthe) - Pioneer and locksmith


Source:Société Généalogique Canadienne-Française -Michel Langlois)